The Wehrmacht is the historical name for the armed forces in German-speaking countries. The modern significance is associated with the activities of the Nazis during the Second World War. Today, many are interested in the history and way of this formation, as well as its form. The article will describe general information about the name, history of creation, organizational structure and uniforms of the Wehrmacht.
Meaning of the concept
Translated from German, the concept consists of two words that literally mean "weapon" and "strength". The Wehrmacht existed for ten years from 1935 to 1945.
The army consisted of ground forces, air force, navy. The commander-in-chief was Adolf Hitler, who signed the law on its creation on March 16, 1935.
History of Creation
Under the terms of the Treaty of Versailles after the First World War, Germany was forbidden to have a full-fledged army with heavy weapons. The number of troops was not to exceed 100,000 ground servicemen and 15,000 sailors. These armedforces were called Reichsfer, that is, imperial forces.
It was on the basis of these defense forces that the Wehrmacht was created. This was made possible by the introduction of universal military service. Thus, the terms of the Treaty of Versailles were violated. The total number of ground forces was soon 500 thousand people and grew steadily.
Organizational structure
The Wehrmacht is the so-called headquarters of the Fuhrer. The armed forces had their own clear structure:
- supreme commander;
- Minister of War;
- commanders of military forces (land, sea, air).
After 1938, the position of commander-in-chief and minister passed to one person - the Fuhrer, and from 1941, Adolf Hitler took over the command of the ground forces.
The number of troops in different years differed significantly.
| Year | Approximate number of troops, million people |
| 1939 | 3, 2 |
| 1941 | 7, 2 |
| 1942 | 8, 3 |
| 1943 | 11, 7 |
| 1944 | 9, 4 |
| 1945 | 3, 5 |
During the ten years of existence, more than 20 million people were drafted into the Wehrmacht (this army of Germany). All this army had to be provided notonly weapons, but also uniforms.
Military uniforms
The uniform of the Wehrmacht had its own standards, but during the war, deviations from them were considered normal. Some inconsistencies were even reflected in special orders. Soldiers often changed their uniforms on their own, following their own taste and fashion trends.
The presence of foreign units in the troops also influenced the deviation from the standard uniform. All of them, when sewing, used different materials and fabrics, the texture and color of which significantly changed the tone. For example, the gray colors of the 1939 and 1945 uniforms are significantly different:
- 1939 - gray-blue cloth;
- 1940 gray-green;
- 1941 stone grey;
- 1944 - taupe.
Despite the fact that the officers had to purchase uniforms on their own, they were given money for this. Therefore, all military uniforms were considered the property of the Reich. Soldiers and officers were required to be responsible for its safety. To do this, they were given a darning kit and shoe polish.
Gabardine, teak, artificial and natural silk, cotton and woolen cloth were used as the main materials for sewing uniforms. The officers had the opportunity to order uniforms from comfortable and high-quality fabric. Their uniforms were often fitted and lightly padded with cotton at the shoulders. The patches and insignia were handmade.
Uniforms were produced at seven enterprises,located in Berlin, Munich, Erfurt, Vienna, Hanover, Koenigsberg, Stettin. From these cities, the Wehrmacht army received uniforms. A stamp was placed on the uniform, which indicated the name of the city and the year of issue. For example, the stamp "M 44" means that the uniform was made in Munich in 1944.
Headwear
Wehrmacht uniform includes hats. These include caps, caps, steel helmets, berets.
Kepi together with the cockade were sewn on one continuous T-shaped base. Insignias were then attached to them.
Berets were used by tankmen. The headgear had a cushion of dense rubber, which was sheathed with a black woolen cloth. From the inside, they were stitched with leather and had an elastic base. A wreath with oak leaves and an eagle with a swastika were embroidered on the beret. After 1941, this headgear was cancelled. Wehrmacht troops stopped using berets.
The caps were made with a solid cockade, complemented by a braided cord edging, buttons, emblems of distinction. There were caps for all military ranks, as well as separately for higher ranks.
The steel helmet had a standard shape, although over the years its design has undergone minor changes. Its main task was to cover the head, neck, shoulders from shell fragments, shrapnel, bouncing stones. Until 1935, the Wehrmacht used model 1916 helmets. Later, a smaller and lighter specimen was introduced, making it more practical. By 1940, a new version was released, and since 1943, helmets have becomerelease without emblems, gray color.
